Signs of a Great Stage Manager

In any performance, from the high school level to under the bright lights of Broadway, the stage manager is the glue that holds the show together. This is the person who always knows what’s going on, where it’s happening, and how things are actually progressing. The personality of a stage manager has to be such that he or she can not only deal with the stress of the performance but also the varying personalities of the actors, director, and stage crew. In general, it helps if this person is level-headed, keeps calm under pressure, and is organized. Here are a few more signs that you have a great stage manager working on your show.

Organized and Prepared – As mentioned above, organization and preplanning is critical to be an effective and successful stage manager. From the first production meeting ‘till the curtain goes down on the final show, the stage manager must be able to juggle multiple schedules from scene blocking, acquisition of props and backdrops, and of course the general running of the show.

Knows the Lingo – Any good stage manager must know the lingo of theaters from the stage terms, blocking notes, and of course the cues for every actor and scene change.

Excellent Note Takers and Communicators – The stage manager is responsible for pulling together all the parts of the production. He or she must be able to listen closely during production meetings, learn what needs to be done, and communicate those plans to lighting techs, stage crew, prop masters, and the sound crew so that everyone is on the same page. Without excellent communication, the entire production could go down as an epic fail.

The Magic Touch – Stage managers must try to be all things to so many people during a production. One thing that each stage manager should try to do that not all succeed at is making the work fun.